Ten Spanish companies have joined forces in the Hympulso Project, whose aim is to design and build a propulsion system based on renewable hydrogen fuel cells and install it, for the first time in the world, in a high-speed train.
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(21/02/2024)
The Hympulso project, led by Talgo, includes Golendus, Ingeteam, EPowerlabs, Optimus3D, Repsol and Sener as partners; Universidad Pontificia Comillas and Tecnalia as collaborators; and Adif as an observer. These entities aim to develop a set of technologies applicable to the Talgo 250 train, which would allow electrifying the railway network with energy generated entirely from renewable sources, even in those lines that do not have catenary.
Comprehensive project
Hympulso will activate the entire renewable hydrogen value chain, from generation to consumption, in the railway system. The project will also analyse the impact that the future energy transition will have on the different assets of the railway infrastructure managed by Adif, such as maintenance facilities or the track itself.
Thus, Hympulso will result in a joint output of hydrogen supply installations adapted to railways -both mobile and static- and a prototype of a hybrid bimodal train for passengers with automatic track-gauge change, which will be able to run both on conventional and high-speed networks, using catenary supply when available, or hydrogen and batteries in those corridors that are not electrified.
The Talgo 250 trains have two technical end cars each, used to generate electricity from diesel to power the traction units on sections without catenary. Under the Hympulso project, one of these technical cars will be replaced by one equipped with fuel cells and batteries, which will supply electricity generated from 100% renewable hydrogen.
Partners
Ingeteam will develop reversible high-power converters capable of charging the batteries from the catenary. Repsol and Golendus will be responsible for developing two hydrogen refuelling facilities. Repsol will deploy a mobile facility, while Golendus' hydrogen plant will be a static production and supply facility. Sener will carry out an overall risk analysis of the hydrogen supply facilities and the railway infrastructure and a simulation of the operation of the services. In both cases, a logistics control platform will be developed to monitor the use of hydrogen in the network.
Finally, Optimus3D will work on more efficient and durable new materials, based on additive manufacturing, and new processes to be used in hydrogen applications.
Adif will develop the safety requirements associated with the infrastructure and the interfaces with vehicle and refuelling facility, as well as the design of standardised refuelling facilities. It will also collaborate with the use cases on the hydrogen fuelling platform. In addition, Adif will include the comprehensive management of this new fuel within its hydrogen strategy, and will manage access to the rail infrastructure during track testing.
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